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 donna at the polish festival Originally uploaded by plexipixie The 49th Annual Fall Bazaar takes place at Dom Polski, this weekend (11/7 - 11/8) from 12 to 7 pm each day. Booths upstairs will offer Polish crystal bowl and vases, Boleslawiec pottery, amber and silver jewelry, pottery, books, and crafts. Downstairs, you can enjoy traditional Polish dishes of pierogi, sausage, cabbage rolls etc. served by the young generation of waiters clad in Polish folk costumes. You can also buy home made desserts and pastries. The address is 1714 18th Ave. Seattle, and free admission and parking. 
It's been a long time since Seattle's last big shake had everybody diving under desks and thinking about being more prepared for emergencies. If you were here for the Nisqually earthquake in 2001, you'll be happy to know that we apparently got lucky. These scientists say 'the big one' might end up being even bigger than previously thought when it finally strikes the city. All of this toward freaking you out a a bit and encouraging you to give serious thought to attending a community meeting on disaster preparedness this Saturday -- or, at least, getting prepared on your own. The Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare group is bringing its seminar to the Capitol Hill library Saturday at 10:30 AM. You'll learn how to be prepared as an individual -- and as a community -- for emergencies big and small and, yes, even snowy. The SNAP group has also been working with community groups in the city to prepare neighborhood disaster response plans for the areas. Where on Capitol Hill will people gather in the event of a major catastrophe that destroys homes and apartment buildings? That's the kind of thing you might want to have a plan for as a community. As an individual, much of it is as simple as making sure you have the phone numbers and e-mail addresses of your neighbors and extra water. And being prepared on Capitol Hill is an especially good idea. WARNING: More freak-you-out stuff follows. At a recent meeting of the Capitol Hill Community Council, Seattle Office of Emergency Management's Mark Howard said Capitol Hill's older homes are a big concern in a significant earthquake. Howard said older houses on the Hill are often not attached securely to their foundations and the risk is that they will collapse in the event of a strong earthquake. Howard said the most vulnerable area of Capitol Hill is the west side along I-5 where there is also the risk of landslides. Freak-out stuff over. With that as inspiration, for you do-it-yourselfers, here are some SNAP resources linked to from the Seattle Office of Emergency Management Web site:
As an independent retailer I notice a lack of ongoing coverage of retail activity. Sure things get coverage when they open, when misfortune strikes or when they close. Reading this blog over the last month I have definitely seen a lot of love shown towards local retailers like Bliss and Bailey-Coy. So why wait for these types of events to share our love for what makes our local shopping experiences unique to our neighborhood? There are dozens of retail gems that are just waiting to be discovered in the diverse community that is Capitol Hill - and First Hill. I am proposing a companion column to the Food & Drink Notes called New in Store. Retail establishments could submit info that I would compile and post on a regular basis. Maybe you are teaching a knitting class, have a new Tarot reader in the store, or got some cool new products in that you know people would love if they only knew about them. If this has been done or tried in the past - I apologize.... Get a little wild at this film fest as Conservation Northwest brings the 8th annual Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival on Tour to Capitol Hill tonight:
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 
There's a big news event in between then and now that might make you forget about it -- but here's an early reminder about Wednesday night's meeting of the Capitol Hill Design Board to review the latest plans for the 1530 11th Ave project. We've covered the redevelopment planning process of the old brick building that was once a factory and part of Capitol Hill's early auto industry. Wednesday's meeting is a chance for the design board to weigh in on the plans for the development and for the community to have a say in the process. Here are some thoughts and questions from the CHS comments about the project:
Here are images and video from the Capitol Hill trick or treating scene near St. Joe's. We'll continue adding to this post as more pictures come in from the big night including scenes from Broadway and beyond.
Original Post:
UPDATE 8:13 PM: We'll have some more pictures from the night from CHS contributors plus the good stuff we find on Twitter, etc. We're also keeping one ear on the scanner. Thus far, the most interesting thing we've heard about was a flaming, homemade hot air balloon soaring westbound about 150 feet in the air in the vicinity of the huge crowds trick or treating around 15th Ave E and Aloha. The 3-foot-tall balloon was aflame and drifting around 7 PM. In less flammable news, we liked this politically-tinged costume idea found via Twitter.
UPDATE 4:20 PM:
Original Post: 
Capitol Hill tends to be one of the best places to experience Halloween in Seattle. The people-watching on Broadway tomorrow night will itself entertain. Upping the fun factor on Broadway, (CHS Sponsor) Sound Transit said they expected the laser light art installation in the lot at Broadway and Denny to be ready by Halloween night, but we have been unable to confirm that the lasers will be lit. All of the equipment appears to be in place however. Swing by the lot Halloween night and let us know (take photos of the lasers and/or people in costumes and drop them in our CHS Flickr Pool). UPDATE: Sound Transit says the show is on. Some of your other options for Halloween on the Hill:
If you're aware of other fun options, let us know in the comments
If you haven't yet figured out what to be for Halloween, maybe these photos from Thursday night's community party in Miller Park will inspire. Looking for something tried and true and surely awesome? Check out the CHS Costume History thread in the comments on this post. How many of your past brilliant costume ideas can you remember?
Update:  Tom Carr's worst nightmare, originally uploaded by Michael Holden.  princess in the hood #6, originally uploaded by tamara childress. Attention Capitol Hill goblins, ghouls and princesses -- you get a 2009 Halloween party bonus. Halloween, this year, includes an extra hour of fun. The end of daylight savings time, as usual, falls on early Sunday. At 2 AM Sunday, clocks fall back to 1 AM. But in 2009, the 'fall back' coincides with All Hallow's Eve morning. For some of you, that will be good news. You disco napped. For the rest of you, drink lots of water and rally. You can do it. According to Washington State Liquor Control Board spokesperson Anne Radford, bars may serve during the daylight savings bonus hour if they choose. However, of the bars CHS has been in on Daylight Savings Sunday, not a single one has ever done so because -- to be frank -- the staff is not enjoying the party the same way you are. The Lesbian and Gay Film Fest just wrapped up its 14th year on Capitol Hill (and beyond). Here's the film the jurors selected as best feature of the festival. Like most trailers, the trailer for The Man Who Love Yngve makes the movie look pretty damned good. SLGFF says it's the best. You can catch the trailer for Waxie Moon, winner of best local film, at the end of this post.
SEATTLE--Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Washington state are facing a crucial vote. Voters are choosing whether to approve or reject SB 5688--a domestic partnership expansion bill passed earlier this year by the state legislature and signed into law by the governor in May. The law would grant the rights of civil marriage in Washington state--like sharing health benefits and death benefits, and hospital visitation rights--to same-sex couples and heterosexual partners where at least one of the two people is over the age of 62, without calling it "marriage." Everyone registered to vote in Washington state should vote to approve Referendum 71 and protect the rights of LGBT couples and seniors. This "Everything but Marriage" law--as it is referred to by its supporters--is the culmination of a strategy of working toward marriage equality by first creating the domestic partnership category for same-sex couples, and then adding more and more rights until domestic partners have the same state-granted... The best part about living in the future? We are finally able to bring science to bear on the mysteries of the universe. For example: Where is the best trick-or-treating on Capitol Hill? Zillow is getting a lot of play for this list of the top Seattle neighborhoods for trick-or-treating. Their Science is based on home values, density and walkability factors. It is a good start. CHS wants the data. And, forget neighborhoods -- we want a forecast down to the city block level. Work on that, Zillow. We know you can do it. In the meantime, we've deployed an advanced algorithm to create this Halloween trick-or-treating forecast for Capitol Hill. Feel free to call out any additional hot spots in the comments. (And, yeah, long-time readers have seen this map before -- kind of like the costume we drag out year after year.)
 SATELLITE LOUNGE, originally uploaded by photocoyote. There was an e-mail string flying around the Hill this weekend about the need to 'save' Elliott Bay Book Company in the wake of news that the much-loved Pioneer Square store is struggling to stay in business. Everybody gets books for the holidays this year. But here's a CHS news bulletin for you: Many of the same conditions trying to rip Elliott Bay from its foundation are assaulting independent Capitol Hill businesses. So far, we're ahead in the what's closed vs. the what's opened tally -- at least in quantitative terms. But we're nowhere near a safe harbor yet even as the economic storm settles. And the long-term trend is a tough one. I bought an expensive camera this weekend. I have no idea when the last camera shop on Capitol Hill went out of business. Sorry, Elliott Bay, but you're on your own. We've got the Hill to worry about. Somebody should send around an e-mail about Capitol Hill indie retailers. Not every one can be 'saved' -- and not all should be. There is a time for change. But if you have a Hill favorite, now is the time to start up your grassroots, viral marketing campaign for it. Tell a friend. You have until 9 PM tonight to add your picks to the 2009 CHS Endorsements. We're conducting an open endorsement process -- anybody with a CHS account can add their vote for candidates and issues on the ballot. Participation has been great but we'd love to have a few more voters to solidify the endorsements. We'll tally results and share totals this weekend. My (sadly) former next door neighbor Mark is having a show. If it's >= 10% as good as it sounds, it will be stunning. See you there.
With our weather getting wet and dreary -- just how we like it -- it's high time for you to score a new wool cap, a lovely scarf and some awesome fingerless gloves. Lucky you, the Seattle Weavers' Guild is holding their annual sale starting starting tonight at St. Mark's:
Happy scarf hunting. And kudos to the guild for their excellent use of punctuation. Seattle Weavers' Guild, indeed! Good Afternoon East Precinct Neighbors! I would like to personally encourage you to come to the Thursday, October 22nd East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition meeting. This month's meeting will be held on Capitol Hill, from 6:30 to 8 PM on Thursday, October 22nd in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption's Social Hall, 1804 13th Ave, Seattle, 98122. Please note that there is free parking on the north side of the building accessible from the alleyway between East Denny and Howell Streets. I am hoping many of our Capitol Hill neighbors and business owners will come and let us know how things are going in your neighborhoods! Our featured guest will be 37th Legislative District Senator Adam Kline. He will be listening to and responding to your concerns. Relevant issues to our community include possible budget cuts to the State Department of Corrections (DOC), which can impact our outstanding Neighborhood Corrections Initiative (NCI). Department of Corrections officers, under the NCI initiative,... Kids wearing black with odd makeup asking for handouts. Looks like the Capitol Hill Community Council has started a new tradition with its Capitol Hill Halloween Walk. Between 6 and 8 PM on All Hallow's Eve, Broadway businesses will be handing out candy -- you can be part of the fun by joining the group gathering at Seattle Central or make your own mini-parade. Just look for these signs to find participating businesses. Here's more from the Council:
Capitol Hill puts on a wild show for Halloween. With the holiday falling on a Saturday night this year, it should be quite a ride. Cool to see an event for the young and young at heart catching on in the heart of the Hill. After 8p, the grown-ups can have it all to themselves while the kiddies invade the prime CHS Trick-or-Treat Zone. 
UPDATE: Original Post:
Here is how the polls work:
I'm a sucker for local shoutouts in hip hop so it's fun to hear a Capitol Hill ice cream shop as sexual metaphor in this track by Fresh Espresso Any other recent Capitol Hill name drops I should know about? The grandaddy of all hip hop Capitol Hill name dropping is, of course, Sir Mix-a-Lot. This Google Map of the rapper's classic route from My Posse's on Broadway is making the rounds again recently.
In meantime, still waiting for somebody to rap about CHS. We wrote recently about updates of the business mitigation efforts of Sound Transit to help Capitol Hill businesses weather the eight years of construction to build light rail. In addition to a splashy marketing effort that will give the Hill a flashy brand and logo and classes for business owners, there is a pretty cool effort to get the Hill's student population connected to the business effort behind the stores, restaurants and entrepreneurs of Capitol Hill. Seattle University's business students got big play at the last Sound Transit meeting but the program extends to Seattle Central, too. These students will be available to put their academic brainpower to work to keep real-world local businesses on the Hill growing. Part of any growing business, says this Web-only Capitol Hill concern, is a good Web site. We received a note from SCCC student Josef asking about suggestions for Hill shops, restaurants, bars or ??? that aren't yet on the Web but would benefit from a student putting together a site for their business. We'll turn the question over to you: Do you have a favorite Capitol Hill businesses that needs a Web site? Anybody in dire need of an upgrade? There are young Capitol Hill geniuses ready to dig and help. Hey, Cheesecake, get on this. Quit wasting your time with videos of these scary guys and make a really scary movie for Central Cinema's 2nd Annual Marathon of Fright Homemade Horror Contest.
Central Cinema is a CHS advertiser. Here's some inspiration from Capitol Hill's Halloween past:
Forget the passive aggressive notes on your neighbor's windshield. Next time, use our handy flier. EDIT: We've heard the glue-paste critics out there and are happy to provide this updated flier. Feel free to use either version. Oh, and e.e. is more than willing to make a tooth brushing flier if that would be helpful for you, but please provide a valid email address so we know where to send it. Happy parking! While Bailey Coy Books owner Michael Wells ponders Capitol Hill's paperback retailing future with Elliott Bay Book Co. considering a move to the Hill, he has also been recognized as a business leader by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. Here is the Chamber's "Spirit of the Hill" announcement:
You also might recognize Chip Ragen's name. His business Ragen & Associates is CHS's site sponsor. Thanks and congratulations on the award. Meanwhile, stay tuned for details on the Halloween street sweep the Chamber is organizing for the end of the month. Scenes from autumnal Capitol Hill courtesy of the shutterbugs in the CHS flickr pool.
 originally uploaded by zeebleoop.
 garden sparkle, originally uploaded by zenobia_joy.
 16th & E Republican, originally uploaded by prima seadiva.
 , originally uploaded by the distant atlantic. |
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